Regulate All Messaging, Voice Calling Apps: Assocham

Advertisement
By Press Trust of India | Updated: 20 July 2015 12:10 IST
Regulate All Messaging, Voice Calling Apps: Assocham
Welcoming the proposal to regulate domestic Internet call services provided by apps like WhatsApp and Viber, industry body Assocham has said that the government should expand the scope of regulation to all kind of communication services offered by over the top players.

"While ruling that domestic calls by OTT (over-the-top) CS (communication service) players would be regulated, they have most illogically exempted both international VoIP calling by OTT CSPs as also all messaging by these players. This is rather bizarre," Assocham Telecom Council Chairman T V Ramachanrdan told PTI.

(Also see:  No Decision Yet on Charging WhatsApp, Skype Calls: Telecom Minister)

While a section of industry and public have criticised the panel's recommendation to regulate domestic Internet calls as anti-consumer, Assocham has welcomed the same.

IT sector body Nasscom has said that monitoring compliance of such recommendation would lead to breach of privacy.

Advertisement

Nasscom President and former telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar has said that whole exercise has come about how to protect revenues of telcos which should not be the objective.

(Also see:  DoT's Net Neutrality Report: 9 Points That Warrant a Closer Look)

Demanding that Internet based messaging applications should be regulated, Ramachandran said that OTT messaging has virtually destroyed the telcos' SMS business and a level playing field is the highest priority.

Advertisement

"All voice and messaging are strictly governed by The Telegraph Act and have to be covered by regulation and licence," he said.

He said that while almost everyone everywhere swears by net neutrality, each has his or her own perception or understanding of it.

Advertisement

(Also see:  5 Points You Need to Know about DoT's Net Neutrality Report)

"Committee unhesitatingly recommends that the core principle of net neutrality be adhered to," he said, adding "we need not hard code the definition of net neutrality. Such an approach would surely lead to much disputes and litigation, hurting both industry and consumers."

 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Nintendo Switch 2 Debuts With Joy-Con 2 Controllers: Price, Features
  2. OnePlus 13s Launched in India: Know Price, Specifications and More
  3. OnePlus 13s Review
  4. OnePlus Pad 3 With 12,140mAh Battery Launched in India: Check Features
  5. Poco F7 Launch Timeline, Key Specifications Leaked Ahead of Debut
  6. Oppo Teases Launch of New Smartphone in India; Could Be Reno 14
  7. OnePlus 13s vs iQOO 13: Price in India, Specifications Compared
  8. OnePlus Pad 3 First Impressions
  9. Redmi Pad 2 to Launch in India on This Date
  10. Nothing Headphone 1 to Launch Alongside Nothing Phone 3 on July 1
  1. Google Doubles Gemini 2.5 Pro Rate Limit for Google AI Pro Subscribers
  2. Huawei Pura 80 Pro, Pura 80 Pro+ Design Teased; Pre-Reservation Begin
  3. Mistral Code AI-Powered Coding Assistant Introduced for Enterprise Developers
  4. Nothing Headphone 1 Launch Date Set for July 1, to Arrive Alongside Nothing Phone 3
  5. Ethereum Foundation Announces Overhauled Treasury Strategy Amid Scaling Push
  6. Google DeepMind’s Demis Hassabis Wants to Build AI Email Assistant That Can Reply in Your Style: Report
  7. Starlink Reportedly Nears India Launch With DoT Approval for GMPCS License Expected Soon
  8. Oppo Confirms Arrival of New Smartphone in India; Could Be the Reno 14
  9. Redmi Pad 2 India Launch Date Set for June 18; Design, Colour Options Teased
  10. Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Leaked Images Suggests a Familiar Design; Specifications Tipped
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.